SMITH’S LATE GR-EIGHT BID Cilic’s on a high for title shot
RUGBY LEAGUE Savelio keeps Wolves ticking at the door
MARIN CILIC will meet Feliciano Lopez in today’s final at Queen’s.
Cilic dropped serve for the first time in his 6-3 5-7 6-4 victory over Gilles Muller.
“Today’s match was a really high level,” said world No.7 Cilic. ”I played really well throughout and Gilles pushed me to the limits.”
Lopez saw off Grigor Dimitrov in his rain-delayed semi-final 7-5 3-6 6-2.
And Roger Federer hopes to be on cloud nine going into Wimbledon after he reached today’s final of the Halle Open in Germany.
The Swiss star beat rising Russian talent Karen Khachanov 6-4 7-6 and will now face Alexander Zverev, hoping to win the event for a ninth time.
“It was extremely close, especially that second set,” Federer admitted.
Petra Kvitova reached her first final since returning from a career-threatening hand injury after fellow Czech Lucie Safarova retired from their Aegon Classic semi-final in Birmingham.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova, who faces Australia’s Ashleigh Barty in today’s final, admitted: “I’m enjoying playing again.” WARRINGTON coach Tony Smith refused to rule out a late bid for the top eight after Andre Savelio’s decisive try earned a first league win since May 5.
The Wolves still have a threepoint gap and significant points difference to overhaul to make the top eight with just four games remaining.
But Smith – who had two tries from centre Ryan Atkins to toast – saw further improvement in his side following their gutsy Challenge Cup exit to Wigan the previous Saturday.
Victory also enabled the Wolves to l eapfrog t heir opponents, who had former England coach Steve McNamara in charge for the first time.
Smith said: “We’re ticking the games off, that’s all we can do.
“There’s a lot of twists and turns still to happen. All we can do is focus on who we’re playing.
“Catalans had a real dig to try and impress a new coach and were a lot better than recent weeks – and I saw some good improvement in my boys as well.”
Both coaches admitted the game was far from a classic, and the two sides are still odds-on to end up in the Qualifiers after the mid-season split.
But they should also have more than enough to avoid any Million Pound Game nightmares.
Progress
McNamara only arrived in France on Tuesday and had just two training sessions with his squad, but saw enough progress from the heavy home defeat by Huddersfield to off e r encouragement.
He admitted: “It’s been a whirlwind. It wasn’t the highest quality game, but we certainly showed a lot more resolve than what I’ve seen from afar in the last couple of weeks.
“We need to improve our and discipline, I don’t just mean giving penalties away, but in possession as well. “But the biggest area we need to improve in is without doubt defence and there were some good signs.” Warrington were ahead for the vast majority of the contest, despite falling behind to Jodie Broughton’s thirdminute opener.
The Wolves responded when Atkins sent Benjamin Jullien, one of 11 Frenchmen in action, over from close range.
Atkins then scored himself after Kevin Penny had been stopped just short, only for Richie Myler to respond by darting through a static defence to briefly level the scores.
Kurt Gidley penalties either side of half-time made it 14-10, before a superb Clark break created the position for Atkins to score his second. Catalans threw themselves a lifeline when Myler’s second try set up a tense finish, only for Savelio to charge over and seal Wolves’ win.